TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Health Organization (WHO) needs at least U$1 billion to keep the number of cases in West Africa’s deadly Ebola outbreak low. The funds needed have increased since last month due to the escalation of the outbreak.
"With a US$ 1 billion fund, the number of outbreaks can be kept in the tens of thousands," WHO Assistant Director Bruce Aylward said to TIME yesterday.
Aylward explained that the funds required to fight Ebola will continue to increase as the wave of outbreaks continue. A month ago, the WHO requires at least US$ 100 million in funds. Today, with a total of 4,985 cases of Ebola which has killed 2,461 people, the required funds have gone up 10 times in just a month.
"Because of the way the outbreak is advancing, the level of surge we need to do is unprecedented, it is massive." said Dr. David Nabarro, senior UN coordinator for Ebola.
RINDU P. HESTYA | TIME